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In Russia, Defining the Reset

In Russia, President Obama participated in a press conference with President Dmitry A. Medvedev today at the Kremlin. President Obama said:"I seek to reset relations with Russia because I believe that Americans and Russians have many common interests, interests that our governments recently have not pursued as actively as we could have. For instance, I believe that Americans and Russians both would benefit from fewer nuclear weapons in the world, greater control over nuclear materials around the world, a defeat of extremist elements in Afghanistan and Pakistan, an Iran that produces nuclear energy but not nuclear weapons, and a North Korea that refrains from launching missiles and exploding nuclear weapons and instead returns to the negotiating table. I also believe that Americans and Russians have a common interest in the development of rule of rule, the strengthening of democracy, and the protection of human rights.

As I said in my inaugural address: 'To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.' I then emphasized in my Cairo speech that 'I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas; they are human rights.' These are ideas embraced by your president and your people. I agree with President Medvedev when he said that 'Freedom is better than the absence of freedom.' So, I see no reason why we cannot aspire together to strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as part of our 'reset'."Read the White House Blog for more on the President's visit to Moscow.

Comments

Comments

Joe

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Tennessee, USA

July 6, 2009

Joe in Tennessee writes:

Dmitry A. Medvedev seems more a figure head dealing with social issues more than anything.

1. Don't bowl with Putin, he will win. He used to like to bowl.

2. Listen to Putins ideas on a New World Economy and what is wrong with the system as it exist. He is a brilliant economist.

3. Don't spar with Putin, he will win, unless you are well trained and have some weight on him. He was very fast in younger years.

4. Bring a large bone and a smaller one for his dogs...He loves his dogs, so it would be diplomatic -- LOL!

5. Let Putin tell you about Russia and watch his eyes, he loves Russia and you can feel it as he speaks.

Russia will ALWAYS come first...That is all you need to know: RUSSIA WILL ALWAYS COME FIRST.

Ron

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New York, USA

July 6, 2009

Ron in New York writes:

U.S.-Russia Recalibration.

If there is a "reset" for U.S. and Russia, it rests in our mutual interest to create global security, prosperity and freedom. The cold-war was a costly and damaging detour from acheiving these goals. The nuclear obsessions of our nation's were, at the heart, representations of fear. Fear that one nation would vanquish the other's ideology. Instead, it has left a legacy of continued war, instability and the shadow of nuclear holocaust. The U.S. and Russia have much to consider in the recalibration of global affairs.

Shawn

July 7, 2009

Shawn writes:

Well, while I'm not that heavily deep into politics, I must say that I do believe there is hope for all nations to unite in peace and unity. And, I also feel personally that The U.S. & Russia can be great friends, with much positive potential among one another (smile)

Thank you kindly U.S. State dept. for this wonderful post. :-)

With love

Edite

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Canada

July 7, 2009

Edite in Canada writes:

"Rule of rule"? What kind of gibberish is that? President Obama on his virgin trip to Russia received the time-known trick of boring Western leaders with lectures about how great Russia is. It is a machination that has been used again and again as a phsychological tool to unnerve new leaders who Russia suspects do not have much of a spine. Bore them to tears and then they'll be too tired to talk about why they came to Russia in the first place.Or simply, use up the time allotted and then, oops, sorry, times up. Putin's KGB tactics seem to work well on those who counter his ideas or demands. Linking the missile defense shield in Eastern Europe that desperately needs to be built to the Start Treaty and nuclear reductions is a non-starter and should never be adhered to or allowed to happen. Russia will not protect its formerly occupied countries in case of a missile attack from a rogue nation. They would welcome such a missile and that is one of the reasons Russian will never agree to help the USA with Iran's nuclear ambitions(They may pretend they will but they won't)If there are people in the State Department who believe they will, they are all wet behind the ears. Any nuclear arms reductions Russia shows the world it's destroying will not reveal the caches of missiles and weapons stashed away in the Ural mountains. President Obama is not a seasoned veteran of foreign politics and he will slide by on the seat of his pants so fast he won't know which way is up. Putin, by contrast, is a seasoned KGB persona, wily, cunning, deceitful, given the very nature of his trademark past and is not one to be believed.If President Obama does not stand firm on the issue of anti-ballistic missile defense shield ,in the face of Putin's blustering, then his party will most certainly lose many votes in 2010 and by 2012 he'll go down in the history books as a one-term president.

Zharkov

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United States

July 7, 2009

Zharkov in U.S.A. writes:

Our mutually ridiculous excess of nuclear weapons is not the only issue to discuss with Russian leaders.

Where is Obama going with trade with Russia?

Why won't the White House or State Department find a sponsor in Congress to write a bill repealing Jackson-Vanik legislation?

Is expanded trade not part of the "Reset" opportunity?

Our delegation really should stop looking at Russia as a competitor for world domination, and begin to view Russia as we view Estonia, Latvia, and the Ukraine - as places needing more jobs through expanded trade, and protection from outside military attack.

Ron

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New York, USA

July 7, 2009

Ron in New York writes:

"Freedom is better than the absence of freedom"

President Medvedev

(I think we must do a little better than that)

Ron

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New York, USA

July 8, 2009

Ron in New York writes:

Proposed Headline.....

U.S.-Russia Join in Efforts to Reset the Global Economy.

The U.S. and Russia announced today, that they will take the lead in the Stolen Assets Repatriation program. StAR is a UN initiative to trace, track, freeze and seize trillions in illicit funds; which rob the world of legitimate means to acheive development goals,stability and security. The U.S. and Russia recognize that they share the knowledge, technologies and special expertise to.......

Ron

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New York, USA

July 9, 2009

Ron in New York writes:

Insights on RESET:

I visited Russia post-USSR and asked a Russian student to describe Communism. He said, "We were marching through blood and mud, for 70 years, in the wrong direction". RESET may be too simple a term to describe the complexities of what Russians are looking for.